U.S. rail carload and intermodal volumes increase, for week ending September 27, reports AAR

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending September 27, saw annual gains, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail carloads, at 228,903, eked out a 0.9% annual increase, barely edging out the week ending September 20, at 228,609, and trailing the week ending September 13, at 231,237.

AAR reported that five of the 10 carload commodity groups it tracks saw annual gains, including: nonmetallic minerals, up 2,249 carloads, to 32,825; grain, up 1,710 carloads, to 22,609; and motor vehicles and parts, up 499 carloads, to 17,205. Commodity groups posting annual declines included: coal, down 1,330 carloads, to 59,499; petroleum and petroleum products, down 439 carloads, to 10,343; and metallic ores and metals, down 355 carloads, to 20,853.

Intermodal containers and trailers, at 283,739 units, headed up 1.1%, topping the weeks ending September 20 and September 13, at 282,068, and 282,930, respectively.

Through the first 39 weeks of 2025, AAR said that total U.S. rail carloads, at 8,652,275, are up 2.1% annually, and intermodal units, at 10,573,701, are up 3.5% annually.